All my life I knew my paternal grandmother’s history with fatal breast and ovarian cancer. She passed away in her 40’s, which resulted in my dad losing his mother at the age of 18. I always knew that she had either been dealt a really bad set of cards or had a genetic mutation.

I decided to ask my doctors about genetic testing. I spoke with a doctor about my paternal family health history and she told me that I had nothing to worry about because it was on my father’s side. As you can imagine, her explanation didn’t sit right with me, so I explored more on my own and learned that this was not true! I left that doctor’s practice and went to another one. My new doctor encouraged me to find out about the BRCA mutation and advised me to get tested. Shortly after that talk, I was walking out of her office with a bandage on my arm and genetic testing pamphlets to take back to my office.

Those next few weeks were torture. I was connected with a genetic counselor on the phone, who screened me and asked extensive family history information. She shared how uncommon testing positive for a BRCA mutation was and I felt very optimistic, until I received her next call:

“Well, Ashley, I wish I had some better news to share with you but unfortunately, you tested positive for BRCA 1 mutation. This mutation increases your chance of breast cancer to 80% and ovarian to more than 50%.”

After the news settled in, I started taking action with preventive measures, including annual MRI’s and 6 month ovarian screenings. In January I will be undergoing a preventive double mastectomy and even though I’m absolutely terrified, I’m also excited to beat my odds with new modern medicine and surgery.

Bright Pink has always been an organization that I was familiar with for women’s health. I’ve always admired Lindsay Avner’s story of creating a non-profit organization after she struggled to find her own resources at a young age to survive the BRCA mutation. I’m not the biggest runner, but, I had never felt more excited or passionate when it came to running the Life Time 5K on September 24 for Bright Pink. To be a 26-year-old woman, who is healthy and cancer-free, I found it a privilege to run for women everywhere, especially women who have or had cancer or are BRCA positive.

I see this race as a way to restart and officially tackle the journey ahead of me. I know my journey is going to be a lot longer than 3.1 miles but I’m ready for it.

I have been so inspired by everyone’s selflessness and dedication to raising funds for this cause so near and dear to me. From friends choosing to spend their Sunday running a 5K, to family and friends donating to my page, and to my father’s hardware store in New York whose employees worked tirelessly to donate from their own paycheck to support Bright Pink, just means so very much. Every dollar counts and I was so honored to raise these funds for a group that is so passionate about supporting women’s health.

The power of sharing your story is so incredibly important. In less than 48 hours of sharing my story, we successfully raised more than $7,000 for Bright Pink!

On Sunday, September 24, my team and I ran. We ran for all the women out there who have lost their lives to breast and/or ovarian cancer. We ran for women recovering on a couch this very moment because they chose a preventive surgery. We ran for women who are still grasping their diagnosis and finding the best plan of action for them. Funds raised will give the next person the opportunity to receive the best care and support as they navigate their own journey.

It’s incredibly important that these resources continue to be available to women everywhere.

As someone who was absolutely scared and put off genetic testing until I was 25, I understand the fear that comes along with it. I chose to undergo genetic testing when I was in the prime of my career, finally getting settled into my skin and embarking on a relationship with someone who has still stuck by me through my crazy rollercoaster of emotions. Basically, I received the heaviest but most important news of my life at the worst possible time. But I’ve learned life is still really great after finding out my news. I now get to take control and beat the odds of cancer. My biggest dream is to get married and have children. I couldn’t imagine having that dream get squashed or shortened because I didn’t have this information available to me to save my life.

If you are reading this and have family history with breast or ovarian cancer, please get tested. I get to keep my life and live it to the fullest. If anything, I say I’m pretty darn lucky.

You too can run with Team Bright Pink. 2018 Bank of American Chicago Marathon registration is now open!

This is why Tim runs.

This weekend, my pink beard and I will conquer the Chicago Marathon and, in just a few weeks, we’ll take on the famous New York City Marathon. Together, that’s 52.4375 miles.

Less than .17% of the U.S. population runs a marathon each year. And an even smaller group runs two. When people ask me, ‘why?’ I ask, ‘why not?’

I’ve watched too many women lose their livesto breast and ovarian cancer. Three of my wife’s aunts were diagnosed with these diseases at a young age and two passed away as a result. As a husband and father, I can’t help but want to shield other families from ever experiencing this pain.

Cue the pink beard.

As it turns out, BRCA gene mutations run in my wife’s family. And, while she doesn’t have a gene mutation, her sister does, giving her an up to 87% chance of developing breast cancer and an up to 54% chance of developing ovarian cancer in her lifetime. Burying our heads is not the answer.

The answer lies in taking action and living proactively. And when it comes to early detection and prevention, no one does it better than Bright Pink. When my sister-in-law underwent a risk-reducing mastectomy and oophorectomy, Bright Pink provided my family with unmatched resources and support.

So when I decided to run, Team Bright Pink was the obvious choice. I am proud to run in the name of prevention and early detection because those very things are the reason my sister-in-law is healthy today.

And this year, my wife, Laura joined me and tackled her first half-marathon as a member of Team Bright Pink.

If my small act of dyeing my beard and fundraising for Bright Pink can help ensure a brighter future for my family, every mile is well worth it.

For them, no distance is too far.

This is how I make a difference. For my family. For your family. For a brighter future.

Tim has completed 6 marathons for Bright Pink and raised over $30,000. Look for the dude with the pink beard and, while you’re at it, contribute to his New York Marathon fundraising efforts here.

On January 29th, 2007, my mom sat my brother and I down and gave us some news that would change all of our lives. She had breast cancer. She said everything was going to be okay, it wasn’t going to be a big deal, and she wasn’t even going to lose her hair.

Then her doctors found more cancer. Ultimately, she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer which had spread from both breasts to her lymphatic system. After a fierce, courageous, and exhausting battle with chemo and radiation, the removal of her breasts and ovaries, and finally reconstructive surgery, my mother is incredibly blessed to be cancer free, a fate that not many stage 4 patients achieve.

Even after dealing with everything she did, my mom is still incredibly full of life. She is loving, considerate, and loves to be around family and friends, whether it be getting together for a holiday or just to watch the latest season of The Bachelor.

After my mom reached 5 years cancer-free, I was under the impression that the impact that cancer had on my life would finally be a thing of the past. This was until I went to my school’s health center freshman year of college and the doctor asked about my mom’s cancer, specifically whether she had a genetic predisposition to breast cancer.

It was in that moment that the doctor hijacked a conversation that my mom had been preparing to have with me for 5 years.

As it turned out, my mom did test positive for genes that are correlated with breast cancer, meaning that I also may have these same genes. It has taken me quite a while to process this information and what it could mean about my lifestyle and my health. For years, I’ve been too scared to do genetic testing. The initial fear came from the shock of learning that my mom had the gene.

I have grappled with the idea of genetic testing for a while and have now decided that I am ready to accept the results, regardless of what they are.

This summer I set a goal: I would run the 2017 Bank of America Chicago Marathon to show myself that I can live the healthy lifestyle that I would need if I found out I have the genetic predisposition (but even if I don’t, it’s always good to be healthy!) Once I complete the marathon, I will do the testing.

I have wanted to run the 2017 Bank of America Chicago Marathon ever since my senior year of high school. It has always been an influential part of my upbringing, whether it be by cheering on my father while he ran when I was a kid, or volunteering as a high school student giving water to the thousands of runners who passed in front of me. After four years of volunteering at the race, I decided that it’s finally time to run the race myself.

I knew I wanted to run for charity and the first organization I looked at was Bright Pink. I immediately knew it was the one for me, not only because of my family’s experience with breast cancer, but because Bright Pink’s mission is so aligned with my own beliefs and experience.

I want to empower young women by sharing my story and my journey while preparing for the marathon and show the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and being proactive to prevent breast and ovarian cancer.

To be honest, I’ve been afraid of getting genetic testing done since my mom’s diagnosis. But her strength has inspired me to take the necessary steps to be proactive about my health. Running a marathon won’t be easy, but I know that once I’ve finished it, I’ll feel strong enough to take on whatever comes next.

Carrie was inspired to change her lifestyle and learn more about her genetics because of her mother’s cancer diagnosis and genetic predisposition. This Mother’s Day, #GoAskYourMother about your family health history and learn more about genetics at ExploreYourGenetics.org.

My sister, Melissa, is my best friend. I’ve always looked up to her and followed in her footsteps. As the oldest of four (we have two little brothers), she would always be bossing us around at home. I was like her little sidekick who would do whatever she wanted, no matter what. She always let me tag along with her friends and in high school I was always known as “Melissa’s little sister,” not Gina. Growing up, we were inseparable and would say to each other, “what do other girls without sisters do all day?”

On September 2nd, 2016, Melissa was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was 31 and had discovered a lump while breastfeeding.

“The doctor told her it was probably nothing, but she had a gut feeling and went back a couple of weeks later to do more testing.”

Melissa decided to advocate for her health, and she found out that she had 100% estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. When Melissa noticed the lump in her breast, we all told her it was nothing. She was persistent that something wasn’t right, but even when we were waiting on the results I didn’t think it was going to be cancer. So when she was diagnosed, we were all in a state of shock and disbelief.

“I always heard about this happening to other people, and older women. Not my family. Not my sister. Not someone who is only 31 years old.”

Melissa went for her surgery about two weeks after being diagnosed, just 10 days before her son Niko’s first birthday. My mom took off work to go stay with her in New York to help with the baby. We all celebrated his first birthday while she had tubes hanging from her chest. Two days later, we found out that Melissa’s cancer had spread to one of her lymph nodes. It was devastating because we knew this meant that she needed further treatment.

After we got this horrible news, the roles that we played for each other as sisters switched. I was on the phone with her every day on my drive home from work. Building her up, giving her advice.

“She was always there to give me advice and help me, and now I had to be strong for her. I didn’t want her to know how scared I was, too.”

This journey has been so hard for all of us, but the worst part was waiting for the doctor visits. It was not knowing the plan of treatment and the fear of the unknown. She went to several doctors who were suggesting very aggressive chemotherapy treatments. She got several opinions and finally she decided to go with a milder form of chemotherapy.

After watching her endure chemotherapy every two weeks for the past few months, I am excited to say she finished her last treatment in February! We are all so excited to see her chemotherapy coming to an end and are hopeful for the future.

“To anyone who is dealing with something similar, know that this is only a temporary part of your life. Imagine yourself beyond the cancer. You will laugh again. You will get through this. This is not what defines your life.”

Melissa during her final chemotherapy session

Watching my sister go through all of this really made me want to do something more. Something that could help other women and prevent them from going through everything Melissa has. She has been so strong through this long and trying process. That’s what inspired me to take on running my first marathon, and do it on Team Bright Pink.

“To all the young women out there who think that it won’t happen to you: assess your risk. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor about your risk. Get checked, be breast self-aware, and let your doctor know if something doesn’t feel right. Don’t wait.”

I was introduced to Bright Pink a few years ago by a friend. After my sister was diagnosed I took advantage of the amazing tools that Bright Pink provides, like AssessYourRisk.org, and educated myself as much as I could. This experience really opened my eyes to how many young women are diagnosed with breast cancer. I think it’s so important that Bright Pink is so focused on educating women about breast and ovarian health at a young age. I wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone else. I am so grateful that I still have my confidant, best friend and partner in crime here with me.

—

Melissa’s strength inspired Gina to run a marathon and help Bright Pink save women’s lives from breast & ovarian cancer. If there’s someone in your life who inspires you to be strong, visit TeamBrightPink.org to find out how you can dedicate your life-saving run in their honor.

I first heard about Bright Pink in 2007, when my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She mentioned her symptoms to her doctor (urinary changes, extensive bloating and feeling full), and he sent her home with heartburn medication. Sadly, she passed away two years later when she was only 56.

Bright Pink had fallen off my radar in recent years, but I got reacquainted in October 2016 when my cousin was hosting a KEEP Collective event. She knew my passion for breast and ovarian cancer education and invited me to partner with her in an online party where some of the KEEP items would go to benefit Bright Pink. While she showcased the sparkly goods, I used Bright Pink’s educational materials to teach the women in the party about their health.

Reconnecting with Bright Pink last October pushed me to get really familiar with Bright Pink’s education resources, and I was impressed.

Bright Pink is doing a great job putting out ready-to-share, useful resources, and that’s something I wanted to support.

I’m an avid runner, so joining Team Bright Pink for the 2017 Bank of America Chicago Marathon seemed like a natural next step!

After I made the decision to take on running and fundraising for Team Bright Pink, I decided to take the challenge one step further, and convince my friends to join me! Luckily, my friends don’t take much convincing! We all met each other through a running group, and running together is our sure-fire way to see each other. It’s our weekly therapy session and our excuse to travel together. I knew Kristin hadn’t done the Chicago Marathon yet, and I told her years ago I’d do it with her. I texted her and Nicole to see what they thought, and, by the end of the day, Renee and Diana had signed up too.

I have incredible friends. Even without having substantial ties to breast or ovarian cancer, or any awareness of Bright Pink, they jumped right in and pledged to fundraise. Just like that!

It isn’t always easy to stay motivated to train for our runs, and to be honest, we don’t do “motivation” very well. We’re great at complaining, whining, cussing and plotting how to get out of the next race. Despite that, we’re all running obsessed and will sign up for another race as soon as someone sends out a text.

I am so thrilled to be taking on this challenge with all my best friends for Bright Pink. I see it as my duty to educate my family and friends about ovarian cancer and listening to their bodies, so everyone has a better chance of an early diagnosis. Running the Chicago Marathon on Team Bright Pink is a way for all of us to spread Bright Pink’s life-saving message to even more women.

Are you inspired by Amy and her amazing friends? Join Team Bright Pink for the 2017 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, or one of many other races!

I was always a very active person. I was either at the gym working out or running my three boys around to their various events. I ate organic fruits and vegetables (LOTS of vegetables) and very little meat. I was also an avid runner, and ran my first marathon in 2015 in Chicago.

Just a few weeks after completing the marathon, my world was turned upside down. On November 19, 2015, I discovered a lump in my breast. I didn’t think much of it and figured it would just go away. A couple of weeks later the lump remained and with the constant nagging of my husband I agreed to go to the doctor.

With my excellent health and lack of family history, no one suspected cancer. After a mammogram, ultrasound, and a biopsy for a “cyst,” I heard the words I thought I would never hear: “You have cancer.” At first, I thought they must be wrong, that my results had gotten mixed up with someone else’s.

I’m only 36 years old, this kind of thing doesn’t happen to someone like me. I was one of “those people” who believed that just because I did x, y, z, I would never have to deal with any major health issues.

After the initial shock wore off, I made the choice to tackle my diagnosis head on. I completed six rounds of chemotherapy and had a double mastectomy with reconstruction. Even though I got cancer despite my healthy habits, those same habits helped to keep me strong to fight cancer, and my doctors believed my healthy lifestyle kept my cancer from being worse than it was. I still believe in healthy eating and staying active as a means of prevention, but I now know that genetics play a big part in your health, too. I tested positive for the ATM gene.

I first heard about Bright Pink from a fellow member of my running group, who ran the 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon as a charity runner for Bright Pink. When I read about the organization I knew immediately that the next time I ran the Chicago Marathon it would be for Bright Pink. I love that Bright Pink focuses on educating women about how they can be proactive to prevent cancer or detect it early.

I learned a lot about breast cancer this past year, but I wish I had the knowledge that Bright Pink provides earlier.

I decided to run the 2017 Chicago Marathon as a charity runner for Bright Pink because I believe knowledge is power. My goal is to help other women learn about breast cancer prevention and early detection so that one day no woman will ever have to go through what I did.

Join Felicia and help Bright Pink empower women to live proactively by signing up for the 2017 Bank of America Chicago Marathon with Team Bright Pink.

I have a long family history with cancer. My father was a BRCA2 mutation carrier, and passed away from prostate cancer. My aunt died from breast cancer in her late 40’s. I also lost my grandmother after a long battle with both breast and ovarian cancer…she was a fighter! So when my gynecologist informed me that I carry the BRCA2 gene mutation, it was hard to stay positive.

Luckily, I am fortunate to be under the care of a doctor who really believes in holistic care for her patients. After I tested positive for the BRCA2 mutation, she was every bit as concerned with my mental health as she was about the preventative steps I would take to reduce my risk of cancer. She really took the extra step to make sure I would get the support I needed. That’s how I learned about Bright Pink.

My doctor felt strongly that support from Bright Pink was so important to navigating the healthcare maze that is having a genetic mutation linked to high incidence of breast and ovarian cancer, and she was right.

Through Bright Pink, I got the support and information that I needed as I went through my journey to manage my risk. Ultimately, after a lot of consideration and consultation with my OB/GYN, I made the decision to undergo a double mastectomy, reconstruction and oophorectomy.

I truly feel like I’ve been given a second chance, and because of that, I feel that I need to be an advocate for prevention and early detection! Joining Team Bright Pink turned out to be the perfect outlet.

As a very active woman living with the BRCA2 gene mutation, I want to show other women in this situation that being BRCA+ does not have to be a death sentence.

It is super scary, and you have to go through a lot of testing, doctors appointments and maybe even surgeries, but this is a chance to live your life! That’s why I chose to participate in Iron Man Chattanooga. I felt really compelled to use the race as a platform for cancer prevention and early detection.

I am so thankful that I’ve had the support of Bright Pink. They’ve really helped me feel like I am not alone, which is so important when dealing with what can be an overwhelming and scary medical situation. I am glad I got to show my gratitude and give back by fundraising and representing Team Bright Pink at the Iron Man Chattanooga!

Jennifer is sharing her story to demonstrate the importance of being able to have open and honest conversations about your family history and breast & ovarian cancer risk levels with your health provider. Learn more about how Bright Pink is equipping more health providers like Jennifer’s on the latest risk assessment and management techniques.

When Gabriela Morón lines up for the TCS New York City Marathon, it will be her fourth time taking on 26.2 miles. Having previously finished marathons in Chicago and Milwaukee, she is expecting this course to be the most difficult to run, but that hasn’t stopped her from tackling another challenge: fundraising for Bright Pink.

On November 6, Gabriela will represent Team Bright Pink with her run. Having a family history of ovarian cancer, she understands the importance of Bright Pink’s work.

“I, myself, carry the BRCA1 gene. It is important for me to educate and prepare myself for the unknown.”

Gabriela’s mother knew she was high-risk and underwent a preventive hysterectomy in 2009, and then a preventive mastectomy in 2011. It was through this journey that the hospital staff connected Gabriela’s family with Bright Pink.

“They said it would be a good opportunity for me to learn about [breast and ovarian health],” Gabriela explains, “and that I could better relate because it was coming from girls closer to my age. It is important for me to fundraise for Bright Pink so women can continue to be aware of what their options are and can choose to act on them.”

Gabriela has chosen to dedicate this marathon to her Aunt Pita, an ovarian cancer survivor who is determined to create a brighter future for the next generation.

“Survivors still face challenges every day, so I choose to challenge myself.”

This is not the first challenge Gabriela has taken on for Team Bright Pink. Last year, she ran the Chicago Half Marathon and raised over $1,800 for Bright Pink. This year, her goal for the NYC Marathon is $2,500. Reaching both goals would mean that Gabriela has personally empowered Bright Pink to teach over 1,730 women breast and ovarian cancer prevention!

To others who are fundraising for Bright Pink, Gabriela has a few words of advice, “Tell others why this charity is unique to you. And tell EVERYONE, you would be surprised how many people are willing to make a donation.”

Want to empower women’s breast & ovarian health with a run like Gabriela’s? Join Team Bright Pink to lock in your spot for the 2017 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

In 2011, I tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation, which put me at high risk for both breast and ovarian cancer.

Receiving the news that I carried the potentially life-changing mutation was certainly frightening, but my future instantly started looking brighter once my doctor handed me a “Little Bright Book” that introduced me to Bright Pink.

After attending an Outreach event, where I met other young high-risk women who had undergone prophylactic surgery, my options started to seem less scary and I started thinking that surgery might be the right choice for me. I remained proactive by getting annual MRIs for several years, and when the timing was right for me, I decided to have a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy in October 2015 at age 27. This means that I had my healthy breast tissue removed to lower my risk of developing cancer. I can now proudly say that my lifetime risk of breast cancer is less than 5%!

Today, I volunteer as a Bright Pink Support Ambassador in Boston, which means that I organize monthly Outreach events for high-risk women in the Boston area. I continue to be impressed by the women I meet each month, and I look forward to both new and familiar faces. We talk about scary medical procedures, awkward dating scenarios, losing loved ones to cancer, and any other challenging experiences unique to young, high-risk women.

I chose to run the Chicago Marathon for Bright Pink because Bright Pink has had such a personal impact on my life.

I run for Team Bright Pink to raise money for Outreach events and resources, like the ones that were so helpful to me on my high-risk journey, and also to support the educational programs that empower ALL women to take control of their own health.

On a more personal level, the Chicago Marathon took place on October 9, 2016 — roughly one year after my surgery. I truly believe that Bright Pink has helped make my future infinitely brighter, and when I ran on October 9, I was thinking of how grateful I am to have a better chance at a healthy future ahead of me and the opportunity to share Bright Pink’s message with others.

Dianne is sharing her story to help demonstrate the importance of genetic testing and being proactive with breast and ovarian health. Dianne is #NotDoneYet until all women are educated about breast & ovarian cancer prevention and early detection. Donate to help make that possible.

I fundraised for Bright Pink to help them educate women about breast and ovarian health. Their message of prevention and early detection is very important, and my family can easily relate.

Last year, I was at the gym when I got a call from my mom. I usually don’t pick up the phone when I am working out, but I had a strange feeling about this call.

“Your sister has breast cancer.”

A giant pit formed in my stomach after my mom said those words. How does my own sister, a previously healthy 31-year-old woman, get breast cancer? Just a couple of weeks earlier, she had found a tiny lump in her breast. The doctor was fairly confident that the lump was not cancerous, but suggested a biopsy as a precaution. When the results came back, everyone was shocked.

Naturally, I thought about my mom. This was déjà vu for my family.

My mom received similar news in 1988 at the age of 37. Doctors found something suspicious after her first routine mammogram, and a biopsy later revealed that she had breast cancer. I was just one year old.

For my mom, a lumpectomy procedure followed by one round of chemo did not do the trick. The doctors only discovered more cancer. She needed to have a mastectomy, followed by six more months of chemo and eight weeks of radiation. In March of 1989, my mom was thankfully declared cancer-free.

“When it comes to changes in your body, always err on the side of caution…”

Twenty-five years later, the good fortune for my family continued. Rachel underwent a lumpectomy procedure in June of 2015. Eight weeks of radiation followed, and then she was declared cancer-free as well. My family breathed a huge sigh of relief.

When it comes to changes in your body, always err on the side of caution, and be proactive about routine self-examinations, doctor check-ups, and annual mammograms. When breast cancer is detected early, like it was for my mother and sister, the survival rate can be greater than 92%. If you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, talk to your doctor about genetic testing. Finally, learn about appropriate prevention and early detection measures, and share what you have learned with your family, your friends and your co-workers.

Through all of this, my family has been incredibly lucky. However, we know that there are so many people out there that have not been so fortunate. That’s why I competed in the Chicago Triathlon with Team Bright Pink. On August 28, 2016 as I ran, I wore pink and thought of all those who have been affected by breast cancer, and all those we are working to save. Thanks to everyone for donating to my campaign — together we’re making a brighter future for women.